Method For The Aggregation And The Transmission Of Multimedia Data

ABSTRACT

A method for data communication is provided and may include storing multimedia data in a first database, the multimedia data being associated with assigned metadata stored in the first database. The assigned metadata may be created for a plurality of users based on at least a user profile for each of the users, which may be based on prior viewing habits. Multimedia data may be selected based on at least the assigned metadata to produce user-specific multimedia data for selection by the users. The user-specific multimedia data may be stored in a second database and may be selected and communicated to a user terminal. An alarm to a user interface of the user terminal may be generated, if in producing the user-specific multimedia data from the profiled multimedia data, it was not possible to generate the user-specific multimedia data in conformance with the user specific hardware or network characteristics.

The present invention relates to a method for the aggregation and thetransmission of multimedia data, in which method metadata is assigned tomultimedia data, a user profile is established utilizing userinformation and multimedia data is transmitted from a central unit to acommunication device of a user. Particularly, the present inventionrelates to a method for the aggregation and transmission of multimediadata to various receiving devices of a user.

Currently worldwide, continually more computer and communicationssystems are made to retrieve or transmit multimedia data over networks,as for example a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network) orthe Internet via for example the PSTN (Public Switched TelephoneNetwork) or a mobile radio network (PLMN: Public Land Mobile Network),for example GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communication) or UMTSnetwork (Universal Mobile Telephone System) etc. Particularly,multimedia data are displayed and/or edited and/or are made available toother modified computer systems. Multimedia data include, among others,digital data such as text, graphics, pictures, animations, video,Quicktime and sound recordings. MPx (MP3) or MPEGx (MPEG7) standards, asdefined by the Moving Pictures Expert Group, also belong to multimediadata. The amount of data arising from the transmission of multimediadata is, however, in most cases enormous. Despite the strenuous effortsfrom the side of industry toward to extension of the existing network,so far it is unable to keep pace with the growing demand for moreefficient networks and greater transmission bandwidths. The situationhas been contributed to, in recent years, by the fast growing popularityof services such as the Internet, the demand for multimedia “on demand”,for example video films or programs/data and network compatiblemulti-user games etc. Consequently, greater numbers of users and largeramounts of data per user are the triggers, bringing the networkrepeatedly to the limits of capacity. Additionally, the costs for theuse of the network are still too high in comparison to the price of theretrieved multimedia data. Belonging to the disadvantages for theextension of the existing network is that such an extension is timeconsuming and proportionally expensive. Attempts to carry the flood ofdata over other channels, as for example broadcast systems (i.e. DigitalAudio Broadcasting DAB or Digital Video Broadcasting), over whichbroadcasters send unidirectional digital audio respectively videoprograms (television programs) and digital data and program associateddata (Program Associated Data, PAD) to broadcast receivers, have upuntil the present not been able to really break through. A typicalexample of broadcasting is the carrying of controlled access films overbroadcast systems. The characteristic unidirectional sending of thesebroadcast systems has, among others, the disadvantage that especiallythe broadcasting by means of radio waves is lacking a return channelfrom the broadcast receiver to the broadcast sender, respectively to itsoperator. As a result of this missing return channel, the possibilitiesfor the settling of accounts for controlled access programs and/or dataare limited (for example to subscriptions). The settling of accounts persubscription is, however, often not advantageous for the user becausethe user is not able to spontaneously retrieve controlled accessprograms and/or data for which they have not taken out a subscription. Afurther disadvantage for the settling of accounts per subscription isthat the providers, respectively the operators of the broadcast sender,obtain no direct information about which subscribed services were alsoactually retrieved by the user. In the view of the user the settling ofaccounts seems not to be a fair method of accounting since they must payfor a subscription independent of whether they have retrieved thesubscribed services or not. Especially for operators of small broadcastsenders, respectively for small providers of controlled access programsand/or data, the expenditure for the administration of suchsubscriptions and for the settling of accounts of such services iscostly. However, one of the biggest disadvantages is that only veryimprecise data is available for the providers about the behaviour of theuser. This makes it difficult for the provider to adapt quickly towishes or changed behaviour of the user. In summary, it can be said thatexact statistical and individual data about the behaviour of the userand a simple inexpensive system for settling of accounts via areasonably priced bidirectional network (interactivity user—multimediaprovider) is important and decisive for multimedia providers. Thesedemands are not satisfied by the state of the art in the requiredmanner. The document Mohan Rakesh, Smith John R. and Li chung-Sheng:Content Adaptation Framework: Bringing the Internet to InformationAppliances', GLOBECOM 99 shows a system, by means of which contentadapted data can be transmitted over the Internet to a user. With thatthe transmitted data quantity allows itself to be reduced to therequired amount. The European Patent document EP 0905939 A2 likewiseshows a system for reducing the amount of data to be transmitted. Thedata could among others be coded and compressed for this purpose by thesystem. The US patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,831 reveals a system,which adapts the data respectively translates it into the proper formatcorresponding to the end device of the user and the software used by theuser. The system changes the conditions corresponding to the end deviceof the user and thereby allows the user to change the end device withoutproblems. The international patent publication WO 98/43177 of the priorart shows a system, which chooses, extracts and specifically adaptsdynamic data out of the database, in which these data are transmitted tothe user of the system. The behavior of the user can thereby be capturedand influence, if necessary, the extraction behavior of the system.

It is an objective of the present invention to propose a new and bettermethod appropriate for the transmission of multimedia data.Particularly, the settling of accounts for the retrieved multimedia dataand the recording of the behaviour of the user with an acceptable priceto performance ratio should be possible, the locating and the retrievingof multimedia data be simplified for the user and the method should notshow the above cited disadvantages of the state of the art. A furtherobjective of the invention is to create an active push method for thepersonalized aggregation of multimedia data by the system without theuser having to be active in the process in advance.

According to the invention, these objectives are achieved, inparticular, through the elements of the characterizing part of theindependent claims. Further advantageous embodiments follow moreoverfrom the dependent claims and from the specification.

In particular these objectives are attained through the invention inthat metadata is assigned to multimedia data, a user profile isestablished utilizing user information and multimedia data utilizing theassigned metadata and based on the user profile is selected, in whichthe metadata is at least partially produced through automatic analysisof the multimedia data based on the content of the multimedia data, inwhich the user profile is generated at least partially, dynamically,from which data of the user profile portions are able to be modified bythe user, and in which content oriented and optimized user specificmultimedia data is produced out of the said selected multimedia data bymeans of a repackaging module in consideration of the data of the userprofile, which content oriented and user specific optimised multimediadata is transmitted from a central unit to a communication device of theassigned user of the user profile. In particular, the advantage of thisinvention is that an optimisation of the transmission of multimedia isachieved without the existing network having to be extended. This hasthe advantage that the invention offers a more reasonably priced andfaster improvement without the user having to experience a reductionwith regard to the quality or quantity of the transmitted information. Afurther advantage is the time intensive searching and compilation of thedata, in particular multimedia data, is much simplified for the user inlarger networks and the user is additionally able to receive a dynamicpreselection or summary established by the system (i.e. the userreceives for example active proposals for possible search actions fromthe system) and an automation of the search directly influenced by theuser.

In an embodiment variant the metadata is at least partially, dynamicallygenerated, in which the dynamic generation will be made at leastpartially based on user data of the user profile. One of the advantagesof this embodiment variant is that the metadata is continuously currentas is necessary for the user. Additionally, this is achieved withoutunnecessary consumption of system resources.

In an embodiment variant the user determines content oriented and userspecific optimized multimedia data and/or references to multimedia data,which content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia dataand/or references to multimedia data (as for example hyperlinks) arestored and made available in the database of the content module assignedto the user. The embodiment variant has among others the advantage thatpreviously generated multimedia data must not be produced new each timefor multiple uses by the user. This allows for faster access to thedesired data with economy of the computing power. In particular, thesearch for multimedia data utilizing the generated metadata utilizingthe defined, user specific references to multimedia data is enlarged.

In an embodiment variant the user manages the data that are stored inthe user assigned data store of the content module at least partiallyhimself. Management intends to refer to for example, in addition to thedirect access, the deleting or the editing of storage parameters. Thishas among others the advantage that the user is able to directlyinfluence the storage of the data in the content module.

In an embodiment variant the user specific data about networkcharacteristics and/or data about hardware characteristics of thecommunication device of the user and/or data about user behavior in theuser profile is stored. This embodiment variant has the same advantagesas the first embodiment variant.

In a further embodiment variant the repackaging module optimizes theselected multimedia data in view of the user specific user data in sucha way that the data are fit to the demands of the communication deviceof the user and/or the communication connection from the central unit tothe said communication device. This embodiment variant has likewise thesame advantages as the first embodiment variant.

In an embodiment variant content oriented and user specific optimizedmultimedia for different communication devices of the user stored ismade available in the content module of the central unit of the user. Inparticular, this is meaningful for embodiment variants where the user isable to define several user profiles for different communicationdevices. An advantage of this embodiment variant is that the user isable therewith to manage centrally several completely differentcommunication devices. In that way he is able to, for example over acomfortable interface of a computer system, determine and manage in thecentral unit the multimedia data already delivered for one of adifferent kind of communication device such as a WAP and/or SMScompatible mobile radio device.

A further embodiment variant the user profile comprises accessconditions data, which stipulates the monetary value of a credit limitdefinable by one of the user and/or the central unit, to which creditlimit an automatic billing of the retrieved, content oriented and userspecific optimized multimedia data takes place. This has among othersthe advantage that with the recompense for access to the contentoriented and user specific optimized multimedia data the user or thecentral unit is able to be freely define, as to which kind of accountingto which payment amounts should be made.

In a further embodiment variant the central unit records automaticand/or dynamic data about the user behaviour and stores them assigned tothe user profile. This has for example the advantage that statisticalinquiries about user behaviour are able to be carried out centrally andmultimedia providers are able to react quickly to changed userbehaviour.

In an embodiment variant the user profile consists of fixed reusableconditions data of the user and/or the central unit, based upon whichfixed reusable conditions data the central unit utilizes the userprofile and makes it accessible to a third party. This embodimentvariant has for example the advantage that the user can stipulate whichlevel of data about his user behaviour or his user profile may be madeaccessible to a third party or may be used for statistical inquiries.For example, the provider can then introduce a bonus system for suchusers who allow more information about their user behaviour to bereused. Moreover, the provider is also able to react flexibly to theclient behaviour and client wishes.

In an embodiment variant the user determines in advance the accessrequest data of the user data for the purchase of content oriented anduser specific optimized multimedia data, which access request datacomprises an identification of the desired multimedia data and/or userspecific details for the transmission of the desired multimedia data.This has among others the same advantage as above in that the userreceives faster and more efficient access to the desired data(especially access controlled data) for different communication devices.

In a further embodiment variant, the multimedia data comprises programs(software) and/or program associated data. This embodiment variant hasfor example the advantage that the appropriate processing and displaygraphics programs or software for the content oriented and user specificoptimized multimedia data are able to be downloaded in advance to thecommunication device of the user from the central unit.

In a further embodiment variant, the multimedia data compriseshyperlinks.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in thefollowing with reference to an example. The example of the embodiment isillustrated by FIG. 1, which shows a schematic block diagram of themethod, in which multimedia data is personalized and user specificallyoptimized through a central unit.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example according to the present invention,in which embodiment example for the aggregation and the transmission ofmultimedia data by means of a central unit 20 to a communication unit 10of a user multimedia data 52 is analyzed with regard to its content andmetadata 51 based on the content of the multimedia data 52 is generatedby the metadata extraction module 53, respectively is aggregated in apersonalized way. According to the present invention the receivingdevice 10 is bi-directionally connected with a central unit 20 over acommunication network. The communication network comprises for example aGSM or a UMTS network, or a satellite based mobile radio network, and/orone of several fixed networks, for example the public switched telephonenetwork, the worldwide internet or a suitable LAN (local area network)or WAN (wide area network). Particularly, it also comprises an ISDN andan XDSL connection. Included in multimedia data are to be understoodamong others digital data such as text, graphics, pictures, cards,animation, moving pictures, video, Quicktime, sound recordings, programs(software), program associated data and hyperlinks or references tomultimedia data. Also belonging are for example MPx (MP3) or MPEGx(MPEG4 or 7) standards, as they are defined by the moving picture expertgroup. The multimedia data 52 are able to be stored accessibly atdifferent locations in different networks or locally for the centralunit 20. The last named networks could include for example a LAN (localarea network) or a WAN (wide area network), the Internet, broadcastcable networks, PSTN, PLMN or the like. The metadata 52 are extractedutilizing a content based indexing technique and are able to includekeywords, synonyms, references to multimedia data (e.g. alsohyperlinks), picture and/or sound sequences etc. Such systems are knownin the state of the art in diverse variations. Examples for this are theUS patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,644, which describes athree-file-indexing technique or the U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,868, whichadditionally also store synonyms as such-keywords during the indexing ofthe multimedia data and the extraction of the metadata. In the presentembodiment variant, the metadata are able to be at least partiallyproduced dynamically (in real time) based upon user data of a userprofile 21. This has for example the advantage that the metadata isalways current and precise as useful for the user. There existstherefore a type of feedback possibility about the user behaviour at thecommunication device 10 to the metadata extraction module, which candirectly influence the extraction. It could be however that so calledagents are used particularly during the search for certain data. Thesaid user profile 21 is established utilizing user information andstored in the central unit 20 assigned to the user. The central unit 20generates content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data52 according to the user profile 21 and transmits it to thecommunication device 10 of the user. The user profile 21 remainspermanently stored assigned to a particular user. The communicationdevice 10 of the user can be for example a PC (personal computer), TV,PDA (personal digital assistant) or a mobile radio device (especiallye.g. in combination with a broadcast receiver). The user profile 21 cancomprise information about a user such as for example location of thecommunication unit 10 of the user in the network, identity of the user,user specific network characteristics 2113, user specific hardwarecharacteristics 2114, data about the user behaviour 2112, etc. The userdetermines and/or modifies in advance of a purchase of multimedia data52 at least portions of the user data 211 of the user profile 21.Naturally, he has equally the possibility to search and to accessmultimedia data through direct access, without having search andcompilation help of the central unit in the network. The remaining dataof the user profile 21 are able to be determined automatically by thecentral unit 20, by authorized third parties or likewise the user. Thus,the central unit 20 can include for example automatic connectionrecognition, user identification and/or automatic recording and analysisof the user behaviour (time of access, frequency of access, etc.). In anembodiment variant, these data about the user behaviour are able to bemodified anew then by the user corresponding to his wishes. Themultimedia data 51 are selected from the central unit 20 utilizing theassigned metadata 51 and based upon the user profile 21. Contentoriented and user specific optimized multimedia data are producedsubsequently from these said selected multimedia data 52 by means of arepackaging module 30 in consideration of the user profile 21 and inspecial cases the user data 211. For example, a user is interested instock market data (or a single portion of the stock market data), thedesired data are extracted from the general data found on the network,are compiled and optimized corresponding to the user profile 21 forexample the user specific hardware characteristics 2114 or the networkcharacteristics 2113 (e.g. compressed, sequenced, picture resolution orsound quality reduced). In an embodiment variant, the user has thepossibility to determine access request data 2111 in the user profile 21before the purchase of the multimedia data 52. The access request data2111 can consist of for example time, data, type, terms, generaldescriptions (e.g. synonyms as well) and/or characteristics such asresolution etc. of the desired multimedia data. Thus, the user specificoptimized and content oriented multimedia data are already supplied atthe point in time of the access by the user. So that the data of theuser profile for example regarding picture resolution are determined notonly by the central unit 20, but also are able to be at least partiallymodified by the user (e.g. access request data 2111), special userwishes (e.g. regarding download times) can be given attention during theoptimization. The above named process for the selection of multimediadata and sequences of multimedia data according to the user profile 21or according to direct details of the user is understood under thepersonalization of multimedia data. It comprises particularly a contentrelated compilation of data. The optimization to for example userspecific network and/or hardware characteristics and/or user behaviouraccording to the user profile 21 is understood under user specificoptimization of multimedia data. In an embodiment possibility, the userprofile 21 consists of a credit limit 2115. The credit limit 2115 is oneof the user and/or the central unit 20 and/or third party (e.g. banks,credit card companies, multimedia providers) definable monetary valueand stipulates a maximum monetary value for the purchase of contentoriented and user specific optimized multimedia data to be paid for, towhich monetary value an automatic billing for the purchase of multimediadata is able to be carried out by the central unit 20. Upon exceedingthe credit limit 2115 a check is initiated from the central unit 20 forexample to the banking institution regarding the credit worthiness ofthe user. The credit limit 2115 can also serve the user as a protectionagainst unforeseen costs for the purchase of multimedia data. Inparticular, the user is also able to access through the billing fromthird party providers access controlled multimedia data (conditionalaccess) to be paid for over the central unit 20. The handling andmanagement of the settling of accounts (billing) and/or access key arecarried out by the central unit 20. The encryption and/or decoding ofthe access controlled multimedia data is achieved by means of an accesscontrolled module of the repackaging module 30, in which for exampledistribution key and/or session key is able to be used according to theETSI standard. According to the invention, the repackaging module 30 isable to be implemented by way of hardware or software. For the billingof the retrieved multimedia data, meaning the settling of accounts forthe purchase of the data, corresponding settling of accounts data aregenerated by the central unit 20, which comprises for example receiptsfor the settling of accounts (e.g. electronically signed), similar toCDR receipts (call data records) with so called DUR receipts (DAB/DVBusage records). The receipts for the settling of accounts aretransmitted from the central unit 20 for example to a clearing module ofa credit card company, where they are further processed, or the centralunit carries out the billing autonomously. The content oriented and userspecific optimized multimedia data can also be provided with anelectronic stamp, an electronic signature or an electronic watermark bymeans of the repackaging module 30. The electronic signature allows thecontent oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data to beassigned at any future point in time to the user, who has retrieved itfrom the central unit. The misuse of cost compulsory multimedia data canthereby be prevented. Particularly, the user profile 21 can alsocomprise reusable conditions data 2116, which are determinable by theuser and/or the central unit 20 and/or authorized third parties (as e.g.the provider of multimedia data 52). Based upon the reusable conditionsdata 2116, the data of the user profile 21 are analyzed and madeaccessible to third parties (which can be in any case determined by theuser or the central unit 20). The user in this way determines theprotection of the data. The statistical analysis can be obtainedgenerally as well as individually for the specific user. The centralunit 20 functions thereby as an independent filter station for the dataaccording to the reusable conditions data 2116. In particular, thereusable conditions data 2116 in combination with the billing allowbonus systems to be implemented based upon the reusable conditions data2116 by means of the central unit 21. In this manner, for example thepurchase fees for cost compulsory multimedia data can be reduced by theprovider, when the user sets the reusable conditions data 2116 so thatthe provider is able to know more about the specific user behaviour.This gives the provider many advantages. In this manner he is able toreact for example faster to changed specific user behaviour as well asgeneral trends and to take these into consideration. Another applicationof this type of statistical analysis of the present invention is thepossibility for the system using the said analysis to build communitiesor groups of users with the same or similar interests. This allows forexample an optimized and perhaps more time and cost intensiveaggregation of multimedia data through the system. An opposite approachis, if the system notes statistically that for example different userssearched repeatedly and/or requested objects, which were not able to befound. If multimedia data with the desired content do not exist, it canbe deduced that apparently a new interest or a demand for multimediadata with currently still unavailable content exists or a demand is inthe process of developing. That allows the content provider to reactquickly to new interests and create a respective market position forhimself. The content oriented and user specific optimized multimediadata are stored in a database 41 of a content module 40 of the centralunit 20 made available to the user. In this database 41 is not only thecentral unit 20 utilizing the user profile 21 able to store contentoriented and user specific optimized multimedia data and/or referencesto the content oriented and user specific optimized multimedia data, butit also allows the user to store content oriented and user specificoptimized multimedia data and/or references to the content oriented anduser specific optimized multimedia data in the database 41.Consequently, the user receives indirectly for example via the accessrequest data 2111 influence over the data already in the database 41 anddirectly in that he determines the said data (e.g. for multimedia data,which he intends to use at a later point in time). This allows the userto further optimize his time of access. The user is able to access thecontent oriented and user specific optimized data of the database 41 ofthe content module 40 with the communication device at any time or thecentral unit 20 carries out the download of the data to thecommunication device 10 at a prearranged point in time. Thedetermination of the already compiled content oriented and user specificoptimized multimedia data can take place depending on user interface forexample with drag-and-drop or another selection mechanism. It can beconvenient to integrate an alarm function into the system, making theuser aware with the use of an alert, that important multimedia datawould have been compiled utilizing the profile, but this data could notor was not able to be pushed by the system due to for example the choiceof the end device respectively the communication device 10 (meaning e.g.that the multimedia viewed as important by the system do not comply withthe technical necessities of the communication device 10). As anadditional service, it can also be offered that upon the demands of theuser the content or specific parts (e.g. determinable by the user) ofthe content of the database 41 of the content module 40 be stored on aphysical medium, such as for example CD-Rom or DVD and be delivered tothe user for example via the post.

It is important to point out, that the user has the possibilityaccording to the present invention to define for himself severaldifferent user profiles 21 at the central unit 20 for differentcommunication devices 10 and/or different network locations etc. In sodoing he can define for example a user profile 21 for a mobile radiodevice, a user profile 21 for a PC and one for a PDA. Since thedifferent user profiles 21 are each assigned to the same user, he isalso able to commonly modify and manage the user profile from hisdifferent communication devices 10. In so doing he can determine accessrequest data 2111 during the day at his employment on his PC, in orderto access the multimedia data (stock market, weather, sport, etc.)according to the predefined access request data 2111 later on the wayhome with his mobile radio device. The central unit 20 functions as acentral management element, which allows the user to manage hisdifferent end devices and the desired multimedia data in a convenientmanner. Through this reciprocal access, a widest possible optimizationwith most minimal network load and greatest user comfort is achieved.Since the user receives a permanently, assigned, stored user profile 21in the central unit 20, the central unit 20 also has the possibility totake into consideration load peaks for the performance of calculationand/or network transmission (time, transmission channel etc.). On theother hand, it is important to note that with the present invention anactive from the system push-situation is created by the system for theuser without the user having to be active himself, meaning the data iscompiled by the system without further user intervention utilizing hisuser profile 21 and if it is the planned case independently transmitted.This can take into consideration as with automatic device recognitionfor example the time of the user behaviour for different communicationdevices (end devices) by the same user etc. It is also possible toimagine that the system is used for the personalized creation ofmultimedia advertising data or to integrate such data into multimediadata demanded by the user. It must be pointed out that the method maynot be viewed as limited in its scope of protection in any way throughthe example mentioned here.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Communication device-   20 Central unit-   21 User profile-   211 data able to be determined by the user-   2111 Access request data-   2112 Data based upon user behaviour-   2113 User specific data about network characteristics-   2114 User specific data about hardware characteristics-   2115 Credit limit-   2116 Reusable conditions data-   30 Repackaging module-   40 Content module-   41 Database-   51 Metadata-   52 Multimedia data-   53 Metadata extraction module

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A method for selection and transmission ofmultimedia data, the method comprising: storing multimedia data in afirst database, the multimedia data being associated with metadatastored in said first database; creating assigned metadata for aplurality of users based on at least a user profile for each of saidplurality of users, said user profile based at least in part on userprior viewing habits; associating the assigned metadata to themultimedia data; selecting multimedia data from the first database basedon at least the assigned metadata to produce user-specific multimediadata for selection by said plurality of users; storing the user-specificmultimedia data in a second database; and communicating user-specificmultimedia data selected by a user from the second database to a userterminal.
 12. The method according to claim 11, comprising generating analarm to a user interface of the user terminal, if in said producing theuser-specific multimedia data from said selected multimedia data it wasnot possible to generate the user-specific multimedia data inconformance with one or both of: user specific hardware characteristicsand user specific network characteristics.
 13. The method according toclaim 11, comprising selectively producing user-specific multimedia dataoptimized for different terminal devices based on multiple hardwareprofiles from the selected multimedia data, and wherein the user profilecomprises multiple hardware profiles for different terminal devicesaccessible to the user.
 14. The method according to claim 11, comprisingencrypting the user-specific multimedia data that is stored in thesecond database.
 15. The method according to claim 11, comprisinganalyzing user behavior history of accessing the user-specificmultimedia data to store reusable conditions data in the user profileand reducing a purchase fee for the user-specific multimedia data basedon the reusable conditions data.
 16. The method according to claim 11,wherein the multimedia data is modified based on network loadoptimization.
 17. The method according to claim 11, wherein said userprofile comprises user specific behavior data related to a use ofmultimedia data.
 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein metadataassociated with said assigned metadata comprises context-based keywordsrelating to the multimedia data.
 19. The method according to claim 11,comprising creating the assigned metadata as a result of one or moresearches for multimedia data by a search agent at a central managementunit that stores the user profile.
 20. The method according to claim 11,wherein the multimedia data is modified based on one or both of: userspecific hardware characteristics and user specific networkcharacteristics, and wherein the user specific hardware characteristicsand user specific network characteristics are stored in the userprofile.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the user specifichardware characteristics include information on a picture resolution anda compression scheme, and said producing user-specific multimedia datacomprises converting the selected multimedia data to user-specificmultimedia data by applying the compression scheme and the pictureresolution.
 22. A system for selection and transmission of multimediadata, said system comprising a first database, a central managementunit, a repackaging module, and a second database, wherein said systemis operable to: store multimedia data in a first database, themultimedia data being associated with metadata stored in said firstdatabase; create assigned metadata for a plurality of users based on atleast a user profile for each of said plurality of users, said userprofile based at least in part on user prior viewing habits; associatethe assigned metadata to the multimedia data; select multimedia datafrom the first database based on at least the assigned metadata toproduce user-specific multimedia data for selection by said plurality ofusers; store the user-specific multimedia data in a second database; andcommunicate user-specific multimedia data selected by a user from thesecond database to a user terminal.
 23. The system according to claim22, wherein said system is operable to generate an alarm to a userinterface of the user terminal, if in said producing the user-specificmultimedia data from said selected multimedia data it was not possibleto generate the user-specific multimedia data in conformance with one orboth of: user specific hardware characteristics and user specificnetwork characteristics stored in the user profile.
 24. The systemaccording to claim 22, wherein said system is operable to selectivelyproduce user-specific multimedia data optimized for different terminaldevices based on multiple hardware profiles from the selected multimediadata, and wherein the user profile comprises multiple hardware profilesfor different terminal devices accessible to the user.
 25. The systemaccording to claim 22, wherein said system is operable to encrypt theuser-specific multimedia data that is stored on the second database. 26.The system according to claim 22, wherein said system is operable toanalyze user behavior history of accessing the user-specific multimediadata to store reusable conditions data in the user profile and reducinga purchase fee for the user-specific multimedia data based on thereusable conditions data.
 27. The system according to claim 22, whereinthe multimedia data is modified based on network load optimization. 28.The system according to claim 22, wherein said user profile comprisesuser specific behavior data related to a use of multimedia data.
 29. Thesystem according to claim 22, wherein metadata associated with saidassigned metadata comprises context-based keywords relating to themultimedia data.
 30. The system according to claim 22, wherein saidsystem is operable to create the assigned metadata as a result of one ormore searches for multimedia data by a search agent at a centralmanagement unit that stores the user profile.
 31. The system accordingto claim 22, wherein the multimedia data is modified based on one orboth of: user specific hardware characteristics and user specificnetwork characteristics, and wherein the user specific hardwarecharacteristics and user specific network characteristics are stored inthe user profile.
 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the userspecific hardware characteristics include information on a pictureresolution and a compression scheme, and said producing user-specificmultimedia data comprises converting the selected multimedia data touser-specific multimedia data by applying the compression scheme and thepicture resolution.
 33. A method for selecting and transmission ofmultimedia data, the method comprising: storing multimedia data in afirst database, the multimedia data being associated with metadata;creating assigned metadata for a plurality of users based on at least auser profile for each of said plurality of users, said user profilebased at least in part on user prior viewing habits; associating theassigned metadata to the multimedia data; selecting multimedia databased on at least the assigned metadata to produce user-specificmultimedia data for selection by said plurality of users; storing theuser-specific multimedia data in a second database; and communicatinguser-specific multimedia data selected by a user from the seconddatabase to a user terminal.
 34. The method according to claim 33,comprising generating an alarm to a user interface of the user terminal,if in said producing the user-specific multimedia data from saidselected multimedia data it was not possible to generate theuser-specific multimedia data in conformance with one or both of: userspecific hardware characteristics and user specific networkcharacteristics.
 35. The method according to claim 33, comprisingselectively producing user-specific multimedia data optimized fordifferent terminal devices based on multiple hardware profiles from theselected multimedia data, and wherein the user profile comprisesmultiple hardware profiles for different terminal devices accessible tothe user.
 36. The method according to claim 33, comprising encryptingthe stored user-specific multimedia data.
 37. The method according toclaim 33, comprising analyzing user behavior history of accessing theuser-specific multimedia data to store reusable conditions data in theuser profile and reducing a purchase fee for the user-specificmultimedia data based on the reusable conditions data.
 38. The methodaccording to claim 33, wherein the multimedia data is modified based onnetwork load optimization.
 39. The method according to claim 33, whereinsaid user profile comprises user specific behavior data related to a useof multimedia data.
 40. The method according to claim 33, whereinmetadata associated with said assigned metadata comprises context-basedkeywords relating to the multimedia data.
 41. The method according toclaim 33, comprising creating the assigned metadata as a result of oneor more searches for multimedia data by a search agent at a centralmanagement unit.
 42. The method according to claim 33, wherein themultimedia data is modified based on one or both of: user specifichardware characteristics and user specific network characteristics, andwherein the user specific hardware characteristics and user specificnetwork characteristics are stored in the user profile.
 43. The methodaccording to claim 42, wherein the user specific hardwarecharacteristics include information on a picture resolution and acompression scheme, and said producing user-specific multimedia datacomprises converting the selected multimedia data to user-specificmultimedia data by applying the compression scheme and the pictureresolution.
 44. A system for selection and transmission of multimediadata, said system comprising: one or more processors, wherein said oneor more processors is operable to: store multimedia data in a firstdatabase, the multimedia data being associated with metadata; createassigned metadata for a plurality of users based on at least a userprofile for each of said plurality of users, said user profile based atleast in part on user prior viewing habits; associate the assignedmetadata to the multimedia data; select multimedia data based on atleast the assigned metadata to produce user-specific multimedia data forselection by said plurality of users; store the user-specific multimediadata in a second database; and communicate user-specific multimedia dataselected by a user to a user terminal.
 45. The system according to claim44, wherein said one or more processors is operable to generate an alarmto a user interface of the user terminal, if in said producing theuser-specific multimedia data from said selected multimedia data it wasnot possible to generate the user-specific multimedia data inconformance with one or both of user specific hardware characteristicsor user specific network characteristics stored in the user profile. 46.The system according to claim 44, wherein said one or more processors isoperable to selectively produce user-specific multimedia data optimizedfor different terminal devices based on multiple hardware profiles fromthe selected multimedia data, and wherein the user profile comprisesmultiple hardware profiles for different terminal devices accessible tothe user.
 47. The system according to claim 44, wherein said one or moreprocessors is operable to encrypt the stored user-specific multimediadata.
 48. The system according to claim 44, wherein said one or moreprocessors is operable to analyze user behavior history of accessing theuser-specific multimedia data to store reusable conditions data in theuser profile and reducing a purchase fee for the user-specificmultimedia data based on the reusable conditions data.
 49. The systemaccording to claim 44, wherein the multimedia data is modified based onnetwork load optimization.
 50. The system according to claim 44, whereinsaid user profile comprises user specific behavior data related to a useof multimedia data.
 51. The system according to claim 44, whereinmetadata associated with said assigned metadata comprises context-basedkeywords relating to the multimedia data.
 52. The system according toclaim 44, wherein said one or more processors comprises a centralmanagement unit, and said system is operable to create the assignedmetadata as a result of one or more searches for multimedia data by asearch agent at a central management unit that stores the user profile.53. The system according to claim 44, wherein the multimedia data ismodified based on one or both of: user specific hardware characteristicsand user specific network characteristics, and wherein the user specifichardware characteristics and user specific network characteristics arestored in the user profile.
 54. The method according to claim 53,wherein the user specific hardware characteristics include informationon a picture resolution and a compression scheme, and said producinguser-specific multimedia data comprises converting the selectedmultimedia data to user-specific multimedia data by applying thecompression scheme and the picture resolution.